"Actor: Mary Hayley Bell"

• Sir John Mills' Moving Memories | DVD | (09/09/2002) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £12.99

  A film biography with a difference, Sir John Mills' Moving Memories charts the life of one of Britain's most distinguished actors. Compiled from interviews with the man himself and with his family and friends, it traces his career from humble beginnings to all-time great of British cinema. The many film clips reveal an electric screen presence and a willingness to undertake a range of difficult, challenging roles. The package creates major interest with its excerpts from hundreds of hours of home movies shot by Mills during the 1950s and 1960s. These not only capture his young family but many of the period's biggest stars at their most candid: there cannot be many films showing Sir Laurence Olivier belly-flopping into a swimming pool. This is a fascinating document of a bygone age and a fine tribute to a genuine legend. On the DVD: Sir John Mills' Moving Memories is a short main feature and there has been little attempt to make use of the additional disc space. Extras are limited to text-only biographies and filmographies, plus a selection of movie stills. The quality of the picture and sound betrays the film's television origins, although the home movie footage is blessed with a rich, vibrant colour. --Phil Udell